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Novel Catalog
Chapter 13: Can You Give Me a Ride?
Kaliyah quickly intervened, stepping between her mother and Ainsley. “Mom, no matter what, Ms. Easton is still Cason’s ex-wife. It’s not appropriate to drive her away. Anyway, our house has spare rooms. If there’s no other option, we can let Ms. Easton stay.”
The security guard, eyeing Ainsley’s plain attire with some disdain, looked uncertain. He assumed that a woman like her wouldn’t want to be part of such a wealthy family anymore.
Ainsley, however, ignored the judgmental looks. “No need,” she said firmly, rejecting their offer.
With that, she grabbed her luggage and began to leave, but as she stepped out of the mansion, the sky darkened suddenly, and rain began to pour down.
“Just my luck,” she muttered, glancing at her phone. It only had 2% battery left. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she stared up at the gray sky, drenched and feeling utterly ridiculous. The trees around her offered no shelter from the downpour, and she could feel the cold soaking into her clothes.
Just then, a Cayenne pulled up beside her, and a man holding a black umbrella stepped out, walking toward her. The umbrella shielded her from the rain, and she looked up to see Manuel smiling at her. His calm demeanor was in stark contrast to her flustered state.
“Ms. Easton, what a coincidence!” Manuel said with a soft chuckle, the irony not lost on him.
For any girl caught in a heavy rain, a handsome man offering shelter would make anyone’s heart race. Yet for Ainsley, it was more a sense of resignation. Her heart barely skipped a beat. “Yes, what a coincidence,” she replied dryly, the exhaustion in her voice clear. “Mr. Gage, could I ask you for a ride?”
Manuel didn’t answer right away. His dark, thoughtful gaze scanned her. He then spoke gently, his voice warm and inviting. “Get in the car first.”
Ainsley didn’t hesitate. The warmth of the car enveloped her as soon as she got in. Manuel handed her a towel and then turned his attention to his documents, allowing her the space to dry off in peace.
As she wiped the rain from her face and hair, Ainsley couldn’t help but notice the difference in how Manuel treated her compared to others. He was gentle and considerate, his actions smooth and thoughtful—like someone raised with care and attention.
Ainsley found herself wondering why he was so kind. Was he simply doing this out of good nature? Or did he have another reason? Was he trying to make her feel indebted to him, especially since he’d made it clear before that his sister Serina was close to her?
Lost in thought, she didn’t realize that the car had come to a stop until Manuel spoke again, his voice low and soothing. “It’s raining heavily, and you’re soaked through. You should change your clothes before heading back.”
Ainsley raised her head and met his steady gaze. There was a quiet gentleness in his eyes, making it hard for her to refuse. She nodded slowly. “Alright.”
The apartment building where he stopped wasn’t far from the Baldry mansion. It made sense that he would bring her here, Ainsley thought.
The door opened as they entered, revealing a space that immediately felt warm and inviting. The walls were painted in bright colors, and white clouds floated across the blue wallpaper. It was cheerful, almost whimsical, and Ainsley couldn’t help but feel a little lighter.
“Is this your home?” she asked, blinking in surprise.
Before Manuel could answer, a middle-aged woman walked into the room with a warm smile. “Mr. Gage, you’ve come! Who is this young lady?”
“This is my friend, Ainsley. She’s going to take a bath and change her clothes,” Manuel replied smoothly.
The woman, introduced as Dixie Tudor, immediately offered Ainsley a pair of slippers. “Come in quickly. I’ll find something for you to wear, and I’ll cook some soup for you both.”
Ainsley hesitated for a moment before nodding and stepping further inside. The kindness from both Manuel and Dixie was unexpected, but she didn’t want to make a scene. She’d been through enough today.
Manuel then added, “This is my sister Serina’s house. She’s studying at the University of Washington, and Dixie is here to look after things while she’s away.”
Ainsley nodded in understanding. She’d heard about Serina, and though she didn’t know much, she understood that Manuel was close to her.
At that moment, Manuel’s phone rang. “Excuse me,” he said, walking toward a French window at the far end of the room. He gestured for Ainsley to make herself comfortable.
Ainsley’s eyes wandered across the room, eventually landing on a painting on the wall. It was a warm, comforting image—autumn leaves fluttering down from trees in a gentle breeze. Two girls stood in the painting, holding hands and smiling, their joy frozen in time.
Her fingers traced the edge of the frame lightly as she admired the piece. There was something healing about it.
Manuel’s voice broke into her thoughts. “That’s my sister’s work. She painted that when she was fourteen. She wasn’t sick then.”
Ainsley turned around, meeting his gaze. His eyes seemed to darken for a brief moment, an emotion flickering behind them before it was replaced with his usual calm composure.
Her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t quite explain why his gaze had such an effect on her, but something in it made her feel both comforted and unsettled.
She glanced back at the painting. “The other girl—who is she?”
Manuel’s expression shifted slightly, his gaze turning distant as he processed the question. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice quieter than before. “That’s a long story.”
Ainsley didn’t press further, sensing that there was more behind his words than he was letting on. Instead, she allowed the moment to linger, both of them silent as the weight of unspoken thoughts hung in the air between them.
